2027 Presidency: North will prefer Jonathan over Obi–Umar Sani

A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has asserted that Northern Nigeria would favour the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate in 2027 over Labour Party’s 2023 flagbearer, Peter Obi.

Sani, who served as the Senior Special Adviser on Media to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, made the remark during an interview on Daily Politics, a political affairs programme aired on Trust TV, on Saturday.

Reacting to reports that the PDP is actively engaging with Obi and exploring the possibility of bringing both him and Jonathan into the fold ahead of the next general election, Sani argued that, despite Obi’s widely acknowledged integrity, the North would view Jonathan as a more favourable option.

He based his argument on constitutional constraints that limit Jonathan to just one more term, should he return to office, as opposed to Obi who, constitutionally, could serve for eight years.

“Between somebody making a promise and somebody who is compelled by law that he must leave, which one will you take?” Sani asked rhetorically. “He (Jonathan) has to go after four years. This one is making a promise. A promise can be kept and may not be kept. But on this one, you are sure that it must be kept. So for the North, I think Goodluck Jonathan is the best choice.”

Sani’s comments underscore the strategic political considerations shaping the PDP’s positioning ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

While both Obi and Jonathan have not publicly declared intentions to contest, their names continue to surface in political discussions within and outside the PDP.

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Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won significant support in the South and among young voters during the last general election, but faced challenges making inroads into the North.

Jonathan, on the other hand, served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015 before losing his re-election bid to President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, he retains a degree of goodwill in some parts of the North and among sections of the PDP leadership.

Sani’s remarks also touch on the ongoing debate around zoning and power rotation within the PDP.

The North has been a critical power bloc in determining presidential candidates in past elections, and Sani’s position may reflect sentiments within some Northern political circles who are weighing options to retain influence within the next administration.

Political analysts note that a Jonathan candidacy could serve as a strategic compromise between the South and the North, given his constitutional limitation to a single term, potentially paving the way for a Northern candidate to succeed him in 2031.

Neither Jonathan nor Obi has publicly declared interest in running in 2027, and both have remained largely silent on recent speculations.

Nevertheless, the internal power dynamics within the PDP, as well as efforts to form a broad-based opposition coalition, continue to stir conversations about the future direction of the party.

With four years to the next general election, analysts say the PDP’s leadership must carefully balance public sentiment, regional interests, and internal party cohesion as it prepares for what could be a decisive political contest.